diff --git a/src/proto_tcp.c b/src/proto_tcp.c
index 86fd6bd..9ff5b66 100644
--- a/src/proto_tcp.c
+++ b/src/proto_tcp.c
@@ -479,7 +479,8 @@
 		conn_data_want_send(&si->conn);  /* prepare to send data if any */
 
 	si->state = SI_ST_CON;
-	si->flags |= SI_FL_CAP_SPLTCP; /* TCP supports splicing */
+	if (si->conn.data->rcv_pipe && si->conn.data->snd_pipe)
+		si->flags |= SI_FL_CAP_SPLTCP; /* TCP supports splicing */
 	si->exp = tick_add_ifset(now_ms, be->timeout.connect);
 
 	return SN_ERR_NONE;  /* connection is OK */